Johann Leisentrit

Born in Olomouc to a family of craftsmen, Leisentritt studied theology in Kraków and was consecrated as a priest in March 1549. He was from 1559 dean of the collegiate St. Peter in Bautzen. Bishop John IX of Haugwitz made him the Generalkommissar der Ober- und Niederlausitz, responsible for Lusatia, for both Catholics and Protestants. When the Diocese of Meißen became Protestant that year. Leisentritt was appointed by the pope as administrator of the diocese. Leisentritt died in Bautzen and was buried in St. Peter, the Bautzen Cathedral.

• Illustration — Simultaneous church in Bautzen, Catholic mass left, Protestant sermon right, in Leisentritt's hymnal Leisentritt is known for the publication of the 1567 hymnal Geistliche Lieder und Psalmen der Alten Apostolischer recht und warglaubiger Christlicher Kirchen (Spiritual songs and psalms of the old apostolic true believers of Christian churches). It is regarded as a substantial hymnal of the Counter Reformation, containing 250 hymns with 181 melodies. Several come from Protestant sources. 70 new songs are probably written by Leisentritt.

• Forma germanico idiomate baptisandi infantes, secundum catholicae... Ecclesiae ritum cum explicatione Caeremoniarum, quae circa Baptismum fiunt. Budissinae (Bautzen) [1564]. • Geistliche Lieder vnd Psalmen, der alten Apostolischer recht vnd warglaubiger Christlicher Kirchen.... Budissin [1567]. Faksimile-Ausgabe Gesangbuch von 1567. Kassel: Bärenreiter / Leipzig: St. Benno 1966. • Cursus piarum quarundam, vereque evangelicarum precum, quibus per totius Anni circulum omnes Christiani pie vivere volentes, singulos dies salutiferè auspicari, transigere,... debeant. Budissinae 1571. • Catholisch Pfarbuch oder Form und Weise, wie die catholischen Seelsorger in Ober und Niderlausitz... ihre Krancken... besüchen,... zur... Büß, und... entpfahung des Heiligen Sacrament des Altars... vermanen,... in todtes nöten... trösten; mit nachfolgung einer Catholischen Protestation wider alle Ketzereyen... Köln 1578. • Catholisch Gesangbuch, voller geistlicher Lieder und Psalmen... so... mögen... gesungen werden... (2 Teile) Budissin 1584.